Pune’s Regional Transport Office has warned residents against using Rapido’s bike-taxi service and cautioned private two-wheeler owners that they could face legal action if their vehicles are used for unauthorised commercial passenger transport. The advisory follows a direction to suspend Rapido’s bike-taxi operations across Pune district until the company obtains the required e-bike-taxi aggregator licence.
The Pune RTO said Rapido does not currently hold the licence required to operate as a bike-taxi aggregator in the region. It urged residents across Pune city and district not to book rides through the service until the licensing issue is resolved.
The warning follows a meeting held on October 15 under Pune Collector and Regional Transport Authority chairman Jitendra Dudi. Officials from the transport authority, aggregator companies, autorickshaw unions and taxi unions attended the meeting. During the meeting, Dudi instructed Rapido to stop its bike-taxi operations throughout the district until it secures the necessary approval.
Dudi also directed officials to initiate a police case if Rapido continued to offer rides without the required licence. The transport department has since moved towards enforcement, with the RTO registering a case and police seeking action to have the application removed from digital platforms, according to the report.
The advisory places responsibility on both the service provider and vehicle owners. Private two-wheelers found carrying passengers commercially without authorisation may face action during inspections under the Motor Vehicles Act and applicable rules. Owners who attach their vehicles to the platform for commercial passenger transport have been specifically cautioned against continuing the practice.
The licensing dispute affects a mobility service that uses privately owned two-wheelers to provide point-to-point passenger trips. Under the transport department’s position, such operations must meet the applicable licensing requirements before they can legally continue in the district.
The RTO has asked newspapers across Pune district to publicise the advisory so commuters and vehicle owners are aware of the restriction. Residents have been advised not to use Rapido’s bike-taxi service and vehicle owners have been told not to register private two-wheelers for unauthorised commercial use.
The latest notice follows an earlier communication from Dudi directing officials to stop Rapido’s operations in Pune district. The immediate next steps identified by the authorities are enforcement against unauthorised operations, police action linked to continued service provision and resolution of the aggregator’s licensing status.
